A Brent landlord has been made to pay £552,736 for illegally converting a maisonette into studio flats without obtaining planning permission.

Mr Hassam Hussain, who now lives in Canada, was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £494,314 at Harrow Crown Court for turning the property on Church Road, Willesden into nine studio flats without consent from Brents planning service. The figure was held to be the amount of rent he had received as a result of his illegal act. Mr Hussain was also fined £20,000 and ordered to pay Brent Councils legal costs of £38,422.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council said: "This sends a clear message that Brent will not allow people to profit from illegal conversions. Fearon and Hussain ignored enforcement notices designed to ensure that homes are of a decent standard and that our shared environment is protected. They tried to profit from poor quality accommodation which was not suitable to be lived in.

"Brent is one of the leading authorities on using The Proceeds of Crime Act in Planning Enforcement cases. This shows that we will not tolerate this sort of behaviour in Brent and anyone found to be breaking the law in this way will be dealt with robustly."

Another Brent Landlord has also been found guilty of similar offence. John Fearon of Sherwood Road, Harrow was also ordered to pay £235,000 for converting his property in Carlyon Road, Alperton into 13 bedsits without planning permission. Mr Fearon was also fined £10,000 and ordered to pay the Councils legal costs of £32,227.